SPORTS SHORTS: Fritz, Mustangs 12-run South Hardin

LE GRAND – Mariah Fritz struck out six of the nine batters she faced during a three-inning perfect game as the Class 3A No. 5-ranked East Marshall softball team stomped South Hardin 12-0 in Thursday’s NICL West Division clash.

The Mustangs (13-3, 10-1) tallied two runs in both the first and second innings before bringing the game to an early end with eight runs in the third.

Bobbi Amendt finished with two hits, including a double, and four RBIs to lead East Marshall offensively. Kylee Hoskey, Haley Fye, Ashley Allen and Fritz each contributed a run-scoring hit as well.

South Hardin (3-7, 3-7) goes to the Webster City Tournament on Saturday, while East Marshall hosts its fifth annual Mustang Classic starting at 10 a.m.

Sicard hits, pitches AGWSR past Trojans

STATE CENTER – Ashley Sicard hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning and threw a four-hit shutout from the circle, leading the Class 1A No. 4 AGWSR softball team to a 2-0 defeat of West Marshall in an NICL West Division tilt Wednesday.

Sicard struck out seven in going the distance in the circle for the Cougars (12-3, 10-1).

West Marshall’s Brooke Snider surrendered just four hits and one earned run in a losing cause. She walked one and struck out three.

Karis Gibs, Sadie Simatovich, Shelby Larsen and Snider each had a single for the Trojans (7-10, 5-6), who host Aplington-Parkersburg in non-conference play tonight.

STC no match for ranked Comets

CONRAD – A six-run fifth inning gave BCLUW the boost it needed to put away South Tama in a 10-0, six-inning victory in NICL West Division softball play Thursday.

The Class 2A No. 11 Comets (11-4, 8-3) made the most out of their six hits and the six walks issued by STC pitching. Kendall Scurr finished 2-for-3 with a run scored at the top of the BCLUW batting order, while Becca Steckelberg, Olivia Callaway and Kate Goecke each had a double. Mallory Vawter was 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and three runs scored.

Nicolette Simpson got the win, giving up three hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. Sam Holtz took the loss for South Tama (5-9, 5-6), allowing six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Dani Stubbs was 2-for-3 with a stolen base to lead the Trojans offensively.

Mustangs make quick work of Tigers

GILMAN – The East Marshall baseball team put the hammer down early and kept it there, finishing off South Hardin 17-0 in four innings in an NICL West Division game on Thursday night.

Josh Benzing and Nick Mommer combined to allow just two hits while the Mustangs accumulated 14 of their own in the lopsided win.

Sam Benzing finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, two runs and four RBIs to lead East Marshall (11-4, 8-1) at the plate. Nick Long was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs, while Caleb Benzing, Ryan Puumala and Mommer each contributed two hits. Nate DeBondt and Josh Benzing both had one hit, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Dane Butler took the loss for South Hardin (1-8, 1-8), which plays a doubleheader Monday at South Tama.

East Marshall hosts a four-team tournament starting at 10 a.m. as the Mustangs face Cardinal of Eldon. Hudson and PCM play in the noon semifinal, with a 2 p.m. consolation final and 4 p.m. championship game set to follow.

Trojans handle AGWSR baseball

STATE CENTER – Garrett Nichols struck out eight over five innings and the West Marshall baseball team backed him with plenty of offense as the Trojans took out AGWSR 12-2 in six innings Thursday night.

Nichols surrendered two hits, four walks and two unearned runs in the win, and Matt Van Metre got the last three outs in relief for the NICL West Division victory.

Nolan Sinning was 3-for-4 with an RBI double and Ross Randall was 2-for-4 with a three-run double to lead West Marshall (8-6, 6-3) offensively. Chandler Sponseller was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Jared Johnson was 1-for-3 with two runs driven in.

Sully Hofmeister, who went five innings for the loss, had two of AGWSR’s three hits. Evan Janssen had the other for the Cougars (4-8, 3-6), who play in the West Fork Tournament on Saturday.

West Marshall hosts Aplington-Parkersburg tonight.

Wolverines take down Montezuma

GREEN MOUNTAIN – The GMG baseball team took the early advantage and kept it, defeating Montezuma 9-4 in non-conference play Thursday night.

Chad Plaehn pitched around seven walks and three hits to limit the Braves (3-6) to one run in three innings. Noah Thurston tossed the final four frames, surrendering three runs in the seventh but striking out four.

Thurston also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk, a run and two RBIs, while Cole Langenbau was 2-for-4 with a run and two runs driven in. Austin Vaughn finished 1-for-2 with a triple, two walks, two stolen bases, an RBI and three runs.

GMG (6-4) hosts North Tama tonight in Iowa Star Conference action.

Royals baseball holds off Tripoli

TRIPOLI – Brady Stoeffler and Grant Tiarks had three hits apiece as the Colo-NESCO baseball team topped Tripoli 9-6 in Iowa Star Conference play Wednesday.

The Royals (3-5) racked up 16 hits altogether, holding off Tripoli’s comeback attempt. Colo-NESCO led 6-3 before scoring an insurance run in the sixth, but the Panthers (2-6) got three runs back to climb within one. C-N scored twice more in the seventh, and Christian Reischauer got the final four outs for the save.

Stoeffler earned the win, allowing four earned runs on five hits, six walks and two hit batsmen. He struck out two.

Tiarks finished 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs, while Stoeffler was 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs. Taylor Hill, Peyton Larsen and Matthew Hill added two hits apiece.

MCC volleyball hosting Tiger Camp

Marshalltown Community College volleyball coach Chris Brees will once again host the Tiger Summer Volleyball Camp at the Student Activity Center on the MCC campus.

An all skills camp for athletes in grades 6-8 will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. from June 23-25. Campers also will get open gym time each night from 6-8 p.m. The high school players, grades 9-12, will get their all skills camp from 8:30 a.m. to noon and they also will get open gym time from 6 -8 p.m.

Along with Brees, the camp staff will include former professional Division 1 volleyball All-Americans and professional volleyball players, including former Iowa State All-American Kaylee Manns, former professional player Caitlin Mahoney and former Kansas standout Emily Brown.